Folding treadle for piano-playing attachments.



Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

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R. J. BENNETT. FOLDING-TREADLE FOR PIANO PLAYING ATTACHMENTS.

APPLIO ATION FILED OUT. 27, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED OUT. 27, 1909.

" Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

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R. J. BENNETT. FOLDING TREADLE FOR PIANo- PLAYING ATTACHMENTS. APPLICATION TILED OUT. 27, 1909.

Patentd Feb. 21, 1911.

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W////////////////J7////l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J'. BENNETT, 0F MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO .ARTISTA PIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF MILAN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDING TREADLE FOR PIANO-PLAYING ATTACHMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ROBERT J. BENNETT, citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Treadles for Piano-Playing Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to improvements in folding treadles for piano playing attachments, and the primary object of the same is to provide improved treadles which are adapted to be folded within the casing through an opening therein when not in use.

A. further object is to provide improved treadles for operating the wind inducing bellows, and improved means for supporting the treadles whereby the wind inducing bellows may be located to the side of and at points remote from the treadles and the treadles themselves located in such positions to permit ready access to the piano pedals, while at the same time the strings of the instrument which are located in the base of the instrument are exposed to permit ready access thereto without dismantling the treadle mechanism.

A further object is to provide an improved treadle support and improved connections between the treadles and the operating mechanism for the wind inducing bellows which will permit the treadles to be readily folded into and unfolded out of the casing.

A further object is to provide an improved mechanism of this character which will be simple, durable and cheap in construction and effective and efficient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a detail elevation of the base of a musical instrument having a treadle attachment applied thereto constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail top plan view of the treadle mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail end elevation with the end of the casing removed,showing the mechanism in an operative position. Fig. 42 is a view Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 27, 1909.

clearly in Fig. 8.

Patented Feb. 21,1911.

Serial No. 524,888. r

similar to Fig. 2, showing the mechanism folded inside of the casing. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of the invention. .Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view taken on line 6, 6 of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a detailtop plan view of the operating arm, showing the manner of imparting movement from the arm to the operating mechanism of the wind inducing bellows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in the present exemplification of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a portion of the instrument to which this im proved attachment is applied, and the caserably the front member, and the bellows 12 y are arranged so that the movable member thereof will be disposed toward the rear of the instrument and in a position to swing in an upright plane. An elastic member 14 is arranged between the movable member 15 of the bellows and the rear wall 16. of the casing, which tends normally to collapse the bellows.

Suitable spaced bearings 17 are provided and are arranged in pairs, each pair being connected by a base 18, which latter is secured to the bottom of the casing 10. Journaled in these bearings are shafts 19, one of which shafts is provided for each of the bellows or pumpers 12. These shafts 19' are spaced longitudinally from eachother, and secured to one extremity of each of the shafts is a crank arm 20, journaled to each of which is a suitable anti-friction roller 21. Secured to the movable member 15 of the bellows 12 and extending beyond the edge thereof is a projection 22, preferably in the form of a plate, the free extremity of which projects below the shaft 19 and curves toward the front of the casing, as shown more The extremity of this plate or projection 22 terminates adjacent the anti-friction roller 21, so that whenthe v21 will force the projection These arm and the rock shaft 19.

shaft 19 is rocked in a manner to be set forth to move the crank arm 20 toward the rear of the casing, the anti-friction roller and the mavable member 15 of the bellows 12 toward the rear of the casing to expand the bellows against the tension of the elastic member 14. Secured to the other extremity of each of the shafts 19 is a ,imilar crank arm 23,

"which preferal y projects toward the of the casing and at an angle to the arm 20.

A pair of members designated generally by the reference numeral 24 are provided, and one extremity of each of the members is deflected laterally as at 25, and these extremities are journaled in suitable bearings 26 mounted upon suitable supports 27 within the casing. The end of the member adjacent the extremity 25 is deflected as at 28 to extend upwardly for any desired dis tance when the member is in the position shown in Fig. 3. The body of the member beyond the deflected positions 28 is then deflected or bent forwardly as at 29 to ex-, tend across and project beyond the end portion of the member and the deflected portion is then deflected downwardly as at 31 and toward the toe-rail 30 to a point below the base of the casing, and the free end of the member is then deflected forwardly at an angle to the portion 31 for any desired distance, and at the free extremity of each of the members is S00: 1 a suitable support members 2411i c sonced from each other eir free extremities are connected by of a bar or rod 3",, so that the members 24 and the connecting bar 33 form a support for the treadles 34. The forward extremity of each of these treadles is pivotally connected as at 35 to the member 33. Secured to and projecting beyond the rear extremity of each of the treadles is an extension 36 and a link 37 is connected by one extremity to the free extremity of the extension as at 38, and by its other extremity to an arm 39 as at 40. The arm 39 is pivotally connected to the respective crank arm 23 as at 41, and the point of pivotal connection 41 of the arm 39 with the crank arm 23 is arranged in a direct line with the pivot formed by the deflected end 25 of the adjacent side member 24 with the bearing 26. A portion of the arm 39 when in operative position extends over the crank arm 23, and is provided with an abutting face 42 which engages and rests upon the adjacent portion of the crank erni so that when the arm 39 is in an operative position as shown in Fig, 3, the face 42 will engage the arm 23 and form practically rigid connection between the lVhen the trea dle is depressed from the position shown in Fig. 3, the link 37 will draw up the arm 39, which in turn will raise the rock arm 23 to rock the shaft 19 to move the crank 20 toward the and rear of the casing to expand the bellows. As

soon as pressure is relieved from the treadle the elastic member 14 will force the movable member 15 of the bellows 12 toward the fixed member of the bellows to collapse the gether with the end of the treadle 34 which is connected to the arm 39.

The side members 24 of the treadle support maybe arranged in any suitable position, and the treadles 34 are spaced from each'other a suitable distance to permit the pedals 43 of the piano to extend into the space between the treadles so that the operator may have free and ready access to the pedals 43 when desired. By providing the side members 24 with an arch-shaped extremity as shown, it will be apparent that the necessity for cutting slots or openings in the toe-rail 30 will be obviated, and when the treadles are moved to an unfolded or an operative position, the arch-shaped extremity of the side members of the treadle support will extend over the toe-rail. If de sired, each of the side members may be provided with an enlarged portion or projection 44 arranged in a suitable position so as to engage the outer face of the toe-rail to steady and hold the arms or side members in position.

hen not in use the treadl'es may be folded into the bottom of the casing through the front thereof, and as the treadles and supports are raised, the side members 24 will move about the pivots formed by the extremities 25 thereof and the bearings 26, and these bearings being in direct lines with the pivots 41 of the arms 39 with the respective crank arms 23, the arms 39 will move about their pivots to permit the treadles and side members of tls: supporting frame to fold within the casing. During this folding movement the arm 39 will move about its point of pivotal connection with the crank arm 23, so as to move the abnttingface 42 out of contact with the crank arm 23, and

the treadle 34 will be moved about its pivot 35 so as tostand in close proximity to the portion of the side arms or members 24 in advance of the deflected portion 31, thereby allowing the parts to be compactly folded within the casing.

\Vhen it is desired to use the treadles, all that is necessary is to swing the side members 24 of the supporting frame about their pivots 25, and as the side members moveinto positions for use, the arm 39 will be moved about its pivot 41 until the face 42thereof contacts with the crank arm 23, in which position the rear extremities of the treadles 34 will be elevated to positions for use.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the rock shafts 19 are provided with crank arms 44, which latter are substituted for the crank arms 23,-and these arms 44 are each provided with a lateral projection 45 adjacent its free extremity. In this form of the invention one arm 46 corresponding to the arm 38 is employed, and this arm 46 is loosely mounted intermediate its ends upon the rock shafts 19 for independent movement with respect thereto. The extremity 47 of the arm 46 projects below the rock shaft 19 and extends below the projection 45 on the crank arm 44. The free extremity of the arm 46 is adapted to project beyond the front of the casing in a manner similar to the arm 39, and this free extremity is connected by means of a link 48 with the treadles 34. In this form of the invention and when the treadles are unfolded to a position for use as shown in Fig. 5, the extremity 47 of the arms 46 will engage the projections 45 on the arms 44, so that when the treadles are depressed the arms 46 will be rocked about the shafts 19 as fulcrums and the extremity 47 will en gage the lateral projection 45 on the arms 44 to raise the arms and thereby rock the shafts 19 in one direction to expand the bellows in a manner similar to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 4. IiVhen pressure is released from the treadles, the bellows will be collapsed and the crank arms 44 will be depressed when the shaft 19 is rocked in the opposite direction. hen the arms 44 are depressed, the projections 45 thereon will depress the extremities 47 of the arms 46 to move the arms 46 about their pivots to position the treadles 34 for use. hen the treadles 34 are folded into the frame, the side members of the supporting frame will move about their pivots in the manner as already described. As the treadles are folded, the arms 46 will move about their pivots on the shaft 19 to cause the extremities 47 thereof to move away from the projections 45 on the arms 44,and the free extremities of the arms 46 will then be moved into and project toward the rear 16 of the casing 10 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. \Vhen the treadles are unfolded, the-movement of the parts is reversed, and by the time the supporting feet 32 of the treadle supporting frame reaches the floor, the extremities 47 of the arms 46 will be moved into engagement with the projections 45 upon the crank arms 44.

In order that the invention might be fully understood, the details of the foregoing embodiments thereof have been thus specifically described, but i IVhat is claimed as new is 1. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner-endto a stationary support, a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between the bellows and the shaft, a treadle pivoted at its forward end to.the treadle support, a crank arm on the shaft, an operating arm disposed between the treadle and shaft, a link connecting the free end of the treadle and the operating arm and an operative connection between the last said arm and the crank arm, said operating arm being shiftable with respect to its point of operative connection with the crank arm during the folding and unfolding movements of the treadle.

2. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner end to a stationary support, a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between the bellows and the shaft, a treadle pivoted at its forward end to the treadle support, a crank arm on the shaft, an operating arm disposed between the treadle and shaft, a link connecting the free end of the treadle and the operating arm and an operative connection between the last said arm and the crank arm, said operating arm being shiftable with respect to its point of operative connection with the crank arm during the folding and unfolding movements of the treadle, the point of operative connection of the said operating arm with the crank arm being located in the same horizontal plane with the pivot point of the treadle support.

3. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner end to a stationary support, a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and the bellows, a treadle pivoted at one end to the treadle support, a crank arm on the shaft, a pivotally supported operating arm disposed between the treadle and the shaft and operatively connected with the crank arm, and a link connecting the treadle with the operating arm, a por tion of said operating arm beyond the pivot abutting the said crank arm, the abutting portions of the said arms being movable out of engagement with each other during the folding movement of the treadle.

4. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner end to a stationary support, a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and the bellows, a treadle pivoted at one end to the treadle support, a crank arm on the shaft, a pivotally supported Operating arm disposed between the treadle and the shaft and operatively connected with the crank arm, and a link connecting the treadle with the operating arm, a portion of said operating arm beyond the pivot abutting the said crank arm, the abutting portions of the said arms being movable out of engagement with each other during the folding movement of the treadle, the point of operative connect-ion of the said i arms bein disposed in the same horizontal p15. 1e with the pivot point of the treadle In a folding pedal mechanism, the comtien of a treadle support pivoted at its :c-r end to a stati y support, a rock shaft, bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and the bellows, a treadle pivoted at one end to thetreadle support, a rank arm on the shaft, an operating arm disposed between the treadle and the crank arm and pivotally connected by one end to the crank arm, and link connecting the other end of the operating arm with the treadle, said operating arm and the treaclle support being co-axially mounted,

t. Ina folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a trcadle support pivoted at its inner end to a stationary support, a rock shaft, bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and the bellows, a treaille pivoted at one end to the treadle support, a crank arm on the shaft, an operating arm disposed between the treadle and the crank aim and pivotally connected by one end to the crank arm, and a link connecting the other end of th op rating arm with the treadle, said operating arm and the treadle support being co-axially mounted, a Jorti-on of the operating arm beyond its pivit abutting the crank arm to form a rigid connection and mo able out of engag ment with the crank arm during the folding "venient of "he t-readle.

In a folding pedal mechanism the combination of a supporting frame comprising spec-ed side members pivoted their inn-er ends to stationary supports, treadles pivoted by one end to the said frame, rock shafts spaced longitudinally from each other, cranks on the adjacent ends of the shafts, an arm operatively connected to each of the cianks, the points of operative connection of the arms with the cranks and the pivots of the said side members being located in the same horizontal plane, bellows disposed one on each side of the t-readle supporting frame, operative connections between the shafts and the respective bellows, and links connecting the free ends of the treadles with the respective arms, said arms being shiftable with respect to their points of operative connections with the cranks of the respective shafts during the folding and unfolding movements of the treadles.

S. in a folding pedal 111Cl1l11lS111,tl19CD111- bination of a supporting frame comprising spaced side members pivoted at their inner ends to stationary supports, tread ies pivoted by one end to the said frame, rock shafts spaced longitudinally from each other, cranks on the adjacent ends of the shafts, an arm operatively connected to each of the cranks, the points of operative connection of the arms with the cranks and the pivots of the said side members being located in the horizontal plane, ellows disp ed one on each side of the treadle sup frame, operative connections between the shafts and the respective bellows, l e nnect rg the free ends of the 26CtlVi-B arms, saic arms 0 able with respect o their points of operativeconnections with the cranks of tire respective shafts during the folding and unfciding movements of the tread of the cpe arm disposed between the shaft and the treadle, a link connecting the treadle and the arm, a crz nk arm on the shaft, and an operative connection between the crank arm and the first said arm, said connection and the pivot point of the t'readle support being disposed in the same horizontal plane.

10. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner end to a stationary support and being provided with an arched. portion adapted to extend over the toe rail of a musical instrument, said support having a bearing against the outer face of the instrument casing, a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and bellows, a treadle pivoted to its support, an operating arm disposed between the shaft and the treadle, a link connecting the treadle and the arm, acrank arm on theshaft, and an operative connection between the crank arm and the first said arm, said connection and the pivot point of the treadle support being disposed in the same horizontal plane.

11. in a folding pedal mechanism, the

combination of a treadlc support pivoted at its inner end to a stationary support and being provided with an arched portion adapted to extend over the .toe rail of a musical instrument, a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and bellows, a treadle pivoted to its support, an operating arin disposed between the treadle and shaft, a crank arm on the shaftto which one end of the operating arm is pivotally connected, and a link connecting the other end of the arm and the treadle, the point of pivotal connection of said arms being coaxial with the pivot of the treadle support, and a portion of the operating arm beyond said pivot abutting the crank arm and movable out of engagement therewith when the treadlo support is folded.

12. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a pedal support comprising spaced side members pivoted at their inner ends to stationary supports, said side members being provided with arched portions adapted to extend over the toe rail of the in struinent, pedals pivoted to the support beyond the arched portions, bellows, rock shafts, operative connections between the shafts and the respective bellows and operative connections between the pedals and the respective shafts, said pedals being adapted to be folded into close proximity to the side members and the portions of said side members beyond the arched portions being shaped to form a repository space for the treadles and a portion of the operating mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 16th day of Oct. A. D. 1909.

ROBERT J. BENNETT.

Witnesses \VILLIAM E. THOMPSON, VM. H. COLLINS.' 

